Electoral Systems Flashcards

1
Q

Where is FPTP used

A

To elect MPs in the UK general elections

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2
Q

What type of system is FPTP

A

Pluralist

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3
Q

Why has FPTP been criticised recently

A

Inability to prevent a hung parliament

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4
Q

Define mandate

A

Authority to govern

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5
Q

What are the four strengths of FPTP

A

Creates a clear mandate
Easy to understand
Prevents extremist parties
Open list

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6
Q

Main weaknesses of FPTP

A

Creates wasted votes
Excludes women and minorities
Encourages tactical voting
DISTORTS THE VOTE not proportional

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7
Q

What type of system is AMS

A

It is a hybrid (mixed) system:
• FPTP
• Proportional Representation

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8
Q

Where is the AMS used

A

In Scottish Parliament, welsh assembly, London assembly

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9
Q

How many votes are cast in AMS

A

2 votes

1 regional
1 constituent

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10
Q

How are regional seats allocated

A

On a corrective bases
Or ‘top up votes’
Calculated using d’Hondt formula

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11
Q

What are the main strengths of AMS

A

Parliament is more proportionate
Helps smaller parties gain seats=voices heard
Maintains clear link between MSPs and constituents
Reduces adversarial politics

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12
Q

Main weaknesses of AMS

A

Smaller parties gain less publicity than larger ones
More complex method of counting votes
More than one representative for an area

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13
Q

Where is STV used

A

In northern Irish assembly, European, local elections

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14
Q

Is STV proportionate or not

A

Yes

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15
Q

How do people vote in STV

A

Ranked

Ordinal

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16
Q

How many MPs are sent forward in STV

A

Each constituency sends a team of MPs from a large multi member constituency

17
Q

What must a candidate do to be elected under STV

A

Must reach a quota set by the droop formula

18
Q

What are the strengths of STV

A
Lots of voter choice
Eliminates tactical voting 
Fewer votes are wasted as they are reassigned 
No safe seats
Conciliatory voting
19
Q

Main weaknesses of STV

A

Must be very politically involved to rank
Donkey voting
Party can put forward the best person who will win most votes
Ballot paper quite confusing

20
Q

How many countries use party list

A

80

21
Q

When is party list used

A

UK MEP elections and top up votes for AMS

22
Q

Who do u vote for in party list

A

A particular party

Closed list

23
Q

What happens under party list in large areas

A

Large areas vote to elect. Group of MPs which closely mirror the way the area has voted

24
Q

What are the main strengths of Party List

A

Proportional system- few wasted votes

Small parties will be represented so people feel that there voices are being heard

25
Q

Main weaknesses of party list

A

Weak Mp constituent link
Closed list- can not reject a particular MP
Power is in party headquarters
Increase in coalition government

26
Q

What type of system is SV

A

A non proportional majoritarian system

27
Q

What does SV look like on the ballot paper

A

Two columns on ballot paper ( first choice & second choice )

28
Q

What happens if no candidate wins a majority under SV

A

Top two candidates progress - the 2nd choice votes are then factored in
Whoever had the most votes after this is the winner

29
Q

Where is SV used

A

London mayoral elections

30
Q

What are the main strengths of SV

A

Easy for voters to understand
Could encourage conscilliatory voting
Strong mp constituent link
Minority parties have voices heard not entirely wasted
Winner represents majority of constituency

31
Q

What are main weaknesses of SV

A

Strongly promotes voting for top 3 parties
Lots of wasted votes
Encourage tactical voting
Not completely proportional
Rewards parties with concentrated support

32
Q

What is AV

A

A lengthened version of SV, instead of two votes, voters can rank candidates and the lowest party is eliminated and votes are redistributed until one vote has a majority

33
Q

What was the result of the referendum:

Should FPTP be replaced with AV

A

32% yes

68% no

34
Q

What are the strengths of AV

A

Far more proportional than FPTP
Reduces tactical voting
Conscilliatory voting
Eliminates safe seats

35
Q

What are weaknesses of AV

A
Have to be politically educated to rank
Donkey voting
Distorts votes
Result in coalitions 
Complicated to understand
36
Q

Give an example of the Un-proportionality of FPTP

A

Belfast MP McDonnell won with 25% of vote in 2015

37
Q

How many votes and seats did UKIP get in 2010

A

1 million votes= no seats

38
Q

A disadvantage of FPTP is that it creates huge regional imbalances, how many seats did conservative gets in GE in wales or Scotland- how much of vote

A

0 seats

21% of vote

39
Q

In 2015 GE how many seats and votes did:
UKIP
LD
SNP

A

UKIP-13% of vote= 1 seat
LD-8% of vote= 8 seats
SNP-5% of vote= 56 seats